Next week is Tampa Bay Fashion Week. That is not the problem. The problem is the poor excuse for hair on my head, the roots that have stemmed to about 40 inches long, the lack of time I have to get them fixed, and all the fashion shows I have signed up to attend in town. I am torn between calling it a really fun tribute to Romy and Michele's High School Reunion, or just saying it's "ombre." Fashion Week is a time to embrace our eccentricities, after all! (Right? Right.)

Fashion Week this year is really a misnomer, as there's a packed NINE DAYS of events! Suss out the Deal Divas and our roots at some of the parties, as we'll be Intagramming for the Tampa Bay Times. Make sure to follow the account and get in on the action. Use the hashtag #tampabaystyle. (P.S - We know St. Pete Art and Fashion Week is next week as well, but that roundup is coming in another post so we don't overwhelm this one!)

The full list of Tampa Bay Fashion Week events and links to buy tickets is online here. If you don't want to pay (and who ever does?) be sure to enter tbt*'s contest for a pair of tickets to the big runway show Sept. 20! Email at giveaways@tbt.com with your first and last name, your date of birth and your guest's name. The deadline to enter is September 16 at noon.

Here's the breakdown of events:

FRIDAY: Head to International Plaza from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. to check out new fall fashions, attend workshops, talk one-on-one with stylists and meet author and wardrobe consultant Jackie Walker. Go to the Dillard's runway show at 6:30 p.m., and snag a complimentary fashion planner. Price: FREE.

SUNDAY: Kid Couture at the Glazer Children’s Museum is from 1-6 p.m., 110 W. Gasparilla Plaza in Tampa, with fashion workshops and crafts for the kiddos. You have to have a child with you to attend! PRICE: Free with museum admission.

Later that night at 7:30 p.m., hit up Cocktails & Couture at the Ritz Ybor. The event sponsored in part by Kevin.Murphy will feature a hair and fashion show featuring Tribeca ColorSalon. Dress to impress for this one, folks. Entertainment includes the Bella Danza Dance Collective and singer Anye Cole, and proceeds fully benefit the Pediatric Cancer Foundation. PRICE: VIP is $25 in advance, $35 day of show; general admission is $10 in advance and $15 day of show.

MONDAY: Beauty Bar hosted by Working Women of Tampa Bay starts at 6 p.m. at the Centre Club, 123 S. Westshore Blvd #8 in Tampa. Hair stylists and makeup artists will show secrets to getting ready for the big show (we're guessing it doesn't include overgrown roots). PRICE: $10 for members; $15 for non-members.

TUESDAY: This one is a ton of fun. At 6 p.m., check out the History of Fashion at the St. Petersburg Museum of History, 335 2nd Avenue NE, St. Petersburg. Last year's event featured clothes from centuries past. This year, they're stripping off the top layer and showing us the evolution of undies, from Roman amphitheaters to Lady Gaga, from hoop skirts to bustles. Tickets include appetizers, and there's a cash bar. PRICE: $25.

WEDNESDAY: Heels are in order for the VIP Model Behavior Cocktail Reception, flooded with leggy Fashion Week models, from 6-8 p.m. in the Blu Lounge at Ocean Prime, 2205 N. Westshore Blvd. in Tampa. Meet the featured 2013 designers, sponsors, models and local fashion fans (ahem). Expect drinks from Berries & Bubbles, an OP signature cocktail with a "fashion twist," so they say, plus appetizers, live entertainment from Allon Sams and raffle prizes. This event is usually invite only, but there are a limited number of tickets for sale. PRICE: $85.

THURSDAY: Drop by the pop-up shops, better known as Karma: The Shops at Channelside. It opens from 4-6 p.m. Thursday for a VIP preview, and stays open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at Channelside Bay Plaza, 615 Channelside Drive in Tampa. Here you can shop for clothes, accessories and more from a slew of local artists and vendors. PRICE: $35 for VIP preview, free Saturday and Sunday.

If you're going to the pop-up shops preview Thursday, be sure to check out Fashion & Design Day starting at 6 p.m. at multiple locations in the Channel District. The concept is a whole lotta design inspiration from experts in fashion, interiors, animation and graphics. From 6-6:30 p.m., see Design Inspirations at BoConcept. From 6:30-7 p.m., see Costume Design, A Theatrical Journey from Page to the Stage at BoConcept. From 7-7:20 p.m., see Innovation and Skateboard Design at Cars at Channelside. From 6-9 p.m. see Skateboard Design Expo at Cars at Channelside. And from 7-9 p.m., see Redbull Flutag Design & Send-Off at Riley Animation. Also, expect some fashion and food trucks on site. PRICE: FREE.

FRIDAY: It's here! It's here! The piece de resistance of fashion week is the Designer Runway Shows & FWTB Boutique. Doors open at 6 p.m. at the Hilton Tampa Downtown, 211 N. Tampa St. Check out some exhibitor booths including, I REPEAT, INCLUDING A TBT* BOOTH WITH THE DEAL DIVAS! At 7 p.m., peep the fashion show. Designers include Audrey Pat McGhee, Elizabeth Racker, k.hendrix by Kimberly Hendrix, Lolodaisy by Lorena, Monstruosite by Dolly Donshey, Rachana Suri, Sandra Hagen, Shear Enterprises by Rhonda Shear, SW8 Clothing and an International Academy of Design & Technology Student Showcase. PRICE: Limited VIP seats include a swag bag, drinks and access to designers after the show for $85 in advance, $125 at the door. General admission is $40 in advance and $65 at the door (limited availability).

SATURDAY: After all that intense fashion, cool down with the Blogger Brilliance conference from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Channelside Bay Plaza. Blogger Brilliance combines fashion, food, travel and lifestyle bloggers from across the country. Bloggers will learn from "experts" and "seasoned bloggers" (I am only putting this in quotes because I am on this panel and I can't handle calling myself seasoned), chatting about everything from social media to branding. If you have a blog and want to build it up, this is the place to be. Panel speakers include Lindsay Ballard from Makely School for Girls, Shannon Ray from Gloss+Dirt, Stephanie Hayes (ME) from Deal Divas (US), Akemi Sue from Mommy Guru and more. PRICE: $40.

I'm exhausted just talking about it all. So, will we see you at at some of these events? Say hi, and don't forget to use your hashtags #tampabaystyle. Your pics just might end up on the blog!

About the bloggers

Looking for shopping deals in Tampa Bay? The Deal Divas are on the prowl, sniffing out hot fashion finds that won't leave your wallet in ruins. Now you never have to miss a shopping deal! Check in often for the lowdown on local bargains, as well as fashion advice, fun photos and style news. Disclaimer: The content of this blog is produced by the editorial staff of the Times and is not tied to advertising. E-mail us ideas you'd like us to write about.

Stephanie Hayes , addicted to heels for 15 years, has been experimenting with ballet flats, boots and cute sneakers lately. Her poor, tired feet thank her. She can never get enough animal print, and her eye shadow collection has become a bit of a hoard. While other kids were reciting multiplication tables, she was learning to calculate an extra third off the half-price discount during buy-one-get-one week. She knows a healthy swipe of red lipstick can make any outfit better. She can be reached at (813) 226-3394 or shayes@tampabay.com.

Katie Sanders foolishly spurned pretty dresses and shoes as a child, tossing new clothes over her shoulder at birthday parties with a totally rude "no, thank you." Her drab days of monocolor outfits are over now, and she certainly knows better than to turn down free stuff. Her wardrobe mixes classic with quirk. Think blazers with statement necklaces, and lots of patterned ballet flats. She can be reached at (850) 224-7263 or ksanders@tampabay.com..

Kameel Stanley has never encountered a thrift store she didn’t like. Her mother taught her that the true value of clothes isn’t how much they cost, but how many outfits one can create from them. Having grown up in Michigan, she was delighted to learn upon moving to Florida that she almost never needed to wear socks or boots again. There’s a lot of turnover in her closet, and she’s obsessed with dresses, necklaces and wedge heels. She can be reached at (727) 893-8643 or kstanley@tampabay.com.

From camo pants and construction boots to sundresses, sweaters and sling backs, Keyonna Summers knows how to make all of it rock -- at rock bottom prices. A Detroit native, Keyonna delves into her urban roots to find fashion pairings that give a nod to street fashion while maintaining the class of the modern, professional woman. She believes in searching for affordable clothes that look expensive and can easily be dressed up or down. You won't find plaid shirts or fleece jackets in her closet; the only hiking Keyonna does is to the bargain basement. She can be reached at (727) 445-4153 or ksummers@tampabay.com.